White-faced Nunbird
Hapaloptila castanea
Rare and elusive denizen of Andean cloud forest; found at higher elevations than any other puffbird. Distinctive; note especially the stout, black bill bordered by white feathers, chestnut underparts, and red eye. Found inside forest, often near exposed earthen banks, which they favor as nesting sites. Remains motionless for extended periods before suddenly sallying out to catch an insect or other small animal. Typical song is a series of evenly spaced, mellow whistles that can be imitated.
Identification
The white-faced nunbird is 23 to 25 cm (9.1 to 9.8 in) long and weighs 75 to 84 g (2.6 to 3.0 oz). It has a large white patch above the bill with a narrow black border at its top. The crown is gray-brown, the mantle and sides of the face dark brown, and the rest of the upperparts including wings and tail an even darker brown. The chin and throat are white and the rest of the underparts bright chestnut. The bill is black, the eye red, and the legs and feet gray. The sexes are essentially the same, with the female perhaps having paler underparts.
Taxonomy
The white-faced nunbird is the only member of its genus and has no subspecies. It is not a "true" nunbird (genus Monasa) and is sometimes called the white-face puffbird.
- Scientific name
- Hapaloptila castanea
- Authority
- (Verreaux, J, 1866)
- Order
- Piciformes
- Family
- Bucconidae
- Genus
- Hapaloptila
Range and habitat
The white-faced nunbird is found on the east slope of the Andes from western Colombia through eastern Ecuador into northwestern and central Peru. It inhabits the interior and edges of humid to wet forest and cloudforest, often on steep slopes and in ravines. It is usually seen from the midstory to the subcanopy. In Colombia and Ecuador it typically ranges from 1,500 to 2,900 m (4,900 to 9,500 ft) of elevation but has been recorded as low as 750 m (2,500 ft). In Peru it is found only between 1,800 to 2,600 m (5,900 to 8,500 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Brown Accentor
Prunella fulvescens
A relatively plain bird of open areas with scattered thickets in alpine and subalpine regions. Well-marked but not striking: gray-brown above with a dark face, a snowy white eyebrow and belly, and a soft orange wash on the throat and breast. Usually seen foraging on the ground, but male often perches on top of a small tree or a building to give his song: a repetitive, but somewhat musical trill.
Panama Flycatcher
Myiarchus panamensis
This Myiarchus flycatcher is extremely similar to other members of its genus. Look for the dull brown wings; there is no warm rufous tone at all. It’s a fairly large flycatcher with a rather large bill that usually perches upright. The head has a slight crested appearance. Brown back, paler gray throat, and yellow belly typical of this genus. Usually seen singly or in pairs in shrubby woodlands or open forests, and especially around mangroves. Listen for voice, a descending series of whistles: “pee-pee-pee-pee-pee-pee-pee-pee”.
Sooty Honeyeater
Melionyx fuscus
A long, slender honeyeater of upper montane forest and shrubland. All black with a long tail, long, thin, slightly curved bill and a blue eye-ring with a small red spot behind. Forages singly at all levels in the vegetation and often cocks its tail. Similar to Short-bearded and Long-bearded Honeyeaters, but Sooty Melidectes is smaller and lacks the white beard. Call, harsh rasping notes.
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